In the late Viking era this style of hilt was referred to regionally as
a "gaddhjalt" (pr. gahd-hyalt) or "spike hilt," due to the distinctive
thin quillons on the guard -- distinguishing it from the earlier, more
"stout" Viking hilt forms.

Hilts with long slim crossguards were categorized as a Type X by Jan Petersen.
He dates these to a period spanning from the early 10th to the mid-11th
centuries. This type of sword was the precursor of what we refer to today
as the "Crusader cruciform hilt."

Petersen describes two variants of this hilt type, from his examination
of 49 examples distributed across Norway. The older of the two variants
has a taller, slimmer pommel and a thicker guard that may be slightly
curved. The latter of the two has a lower, thicker pommel and a thinner,
longer cross. We have chosen to reproduce the second variant in a style
that shows some continental influence, which, due to the numbers of originals
found, appears to have been more common.

Peter Johnsson has designed this sword to be a perfected representative
of this type, blending the properties of several originals and their common
design elements into a simple, yet dramatically beautiful and dynamic
sword of the period.

The blade is classified as a Geibig Type 5 (which also could be described
as an Oakeshott Type Xa or XI). The blade blanks are hand-ground from
high-carbon steel to a fine satin finish, heat-treated by hand for maximum
flexibility and to take a fine edge, to high tolerances in aspects regarding
harmonic proportions and mass distribution as observed in original blades
of the same type. These swords will be sold sharp, unless otherwise requested
by the customer.